Now you are caught up to where the ladies and I are, at least until we meet tomorrow for week 4. This is the week of getting into the "mud" so to speak with the scriptures and the comparisons between the pig and the foolish woman.
_____________________________________________________________
Beauty and the Pig
Week 3
Gold in the Bible
Now that we know what the Bible says about pigs, lets learn more about gold. How is gold used in the bible? What kinds of items were made of gold?
Using your concordance again, study the words gold and golden. There are many, many references to gold in the Bible. You won’t be able need to study every verse in order to see many of the uses of gold. We’re simply trying to get a general idea of how gold was used in Bible times. Skim through the concordance’s brief excerpts for each verse. Many of these will be enough to tell you how the gold is being used.
List all your observations.
Review your observations and summarize what you have found. What general categories of things were made with gold? What did gold symbolize?
Comparing your notes about pigs with your notes about gold, how appropriate is a gold ring in a pig’s nose? Why?
So far we have learned about earrings (or nose rings), beauty, discretion, pigs and gold in the Bible.
In the attached chart in part 1, “The Pig and the Fool.” We will compare a gold ring in a pig’s snout with a beautiful woman who has no discretion.
How are the pig and the woman alike?
Read the descriptions and verses indicated on the chart, and note, in the right hand column, how each relates to the beautiful woman without discretion.
Part 2 of the chart will help you compare the traits that pigs and foolish women share. The top half of the chart examines Biblical passages about pigs and compares those with scripture’s description of the fool.
Part 3 of the chart deals with commonly recognized characteristics of pigs, and compares those with the Bible’s description of the fool.
After completing the chart, summarize your observations.
Review what you have learned in this study, and write a brief summary below. How is a beautiful woman without discretion like a gold ring in a pig’s snout?
Examine your own life. Are there ways in which you are behaving like a pig?
In what ways are you demonstrating a lack of discretion?
List specific areas in which you need to change, share this list with your parents, pray for God’s help, and commit to actions that will help you grow in wisdom.
Pick out a few Bible verses that focus on the areas you need to change and commit to memorizing 1 new verse each week.
If you want to do additional studying, study the word fool. What is he? How does he act? What are the results of his foolishness? How, specifically, does the foolish woman behave? List the ways in which you are acting like the fool, and resolve to engage in activities that will help you become a woman of wisdom and discretion.
(And because I have no idea how to add an excel spreadsheet, pretend the following is)
Part 1
Gold Ring in Pig's Nose/ Reference/ Beautiful Woman Without Discretion
Out of place, inappropriate/ Ezekiel 28:17 /(Fill in your observation)
On animal that is heading for death /Proverbs 21:16 /"
Wasted; ring could be of value to someone else/ Proverbs 12:15/ "
Of no value to pig/ Proverbs 21:20/ "
Doesn't improve the appeal of the pig /1 Peter 3:3-4 /"
Doesn't disguise the pig's "pigness"/ Proverbs 27:22 and 12:23 /"
Covered with mud and filth /Proverbs 26:11/ "
Pig cannot earn or purchase the ring /Psalm 100:3 /"
Only an outward ornament /Proverbs 31:30 /"
Anyone trying to gain the ring will have to join the pig in the mire /Proverbs 2:18-19 and 13:20 /"
The Pig and the Foolish Woman
Part 2
(Pig /Reference)/ (Reference /Foolish Woman )
(list your observations)/Leviticus 11:7 & Deut 14:8 / Proverbs 5:8 /(List your observations)
" /Matthew 7:6 /Proverbs 5:3-6/ "
" /Psalms 80:8-13/ Proverbs 14:1 and 31:3/ "
Eats a lot/ XXXXX /Proverbs 15:14/ "
Not selective in what it eats/ XXXXX /Proverbs 9:14-18/ "
Knows nothing/ XXXXX /Proverbs 9:13/ "
Never satisfied /XXXXX/ Proverbs 17:24/ "
Noisy /XXXXX /Proverbs 18:2/ "
Content in mire/ XXXXX/ Proverbs 15:21/ "
Destructive in its rooting/ XXXXX/ Proverbs 12:4 and 23:28/ "
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Beauty and the Pig week 2
Beauty and the Pig
Week 2
“As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”
Proverbs 11:22
What does the Bible say about pigs? How are gold rings like beautiful women, and how are gold rings in pigs’ snouts like beautiful women without discretion? To better understand the meaning of Proverbs 11:22, we need to do some more studying.
You will need a concordance for this type of study. If you have an exhaustive concordance, such as Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, you will be using it throughout the book of studies. Or you may go online to http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html. If you have a concordance in the back of your Bible, it may list some of the verses we are seeking, but may not list them all.
Pigs in the Bible
Use your concordance to look up the word swine. Under the word swine, you will see a listing that looks like the one below.
Lev 11:7 the s, though he divide the hoof 2386
Matt 7:6 neither cast ye….pearls before s 5519
Etc
The abbreviation and numbers at the beginning of each line indicate the reference of each verse in which the word swine is used. The words in the center of each line quote the portion of the verse that contains the word swine. The “s” in each quote stands for the word swine. If you are unfamiliar with standard abbreviations for the books of the Bible, refer to the list of abbreviations provided at the beginning of the concordance.
2. What is the first reference listed?
3. Read this verse. What does it say about swine?
4. To fully understand this verse, you should also read the verses that precede it in the chapter, and the verses that follow it. These verses are called the context.
If you were to overhear only one sentence in a conversation between two people, you might very well misunderstand what they were talking about. In the same way, if you only read one Bible verse by itself, out of its context, you may misunderstand what the passage is actually saying. Read the other verses around this verse. Then note anything else you have learned about swine from the passage.
5. Look again at the concordance listing. What is the next verse that is listed?
6. Read this verse and it’s context. What does it say about swine?
7. Repeat numbers 5 & 6 for all the verses listed. (Continue to examine the context of each verse you look up as you do this study). Note that if the listing does not include an abbreviated name of a book of the Bible. This means that the verse is found in the same book of the Bible as the previous listing. If the previous verse was found in Matthew, so this next verse is also found in Matthew.
8. When you get to the listings for Matthew 8, read the entire account given. (Matthew 8:28-34) Note what you learn about the swine.
9. Did you notice anything new about the same story of the swine in Matthew, when you read it in Mark?
10. What do you notice about the verses from the Gospel of Luke?
11. Now that you have learned how to use the concordance and read its listings, look up the word swine’s in your concordance. List the references for verses that include this word.
12. Read each of these verses, with their context, and record your observations below.
13. Another word used in Scripture for a pig is the word boar. Locate this word in your concordance. List the reference of the verse that includes this word.
14. Read the verse and record your observations.
15. One more word that the King James Bible uses for the pig is sow. Look this word up in your concordance, record the verse’s reference, and note your observations.
16. Review the notes you have taken on all the verses that speak of pigs. Summarize your finding. What does the Bible say about pigs?
Week 2
“As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”
Proverbs 11:22
What does the Bible say about pigs? How are gold rings like beautiful women, and how are gold rings in pigs’ snouts like beautiful women without discretion? To better understand the meaning of Proverbs 11:22, we need to do some more studying.
You will need a concordance for this type of study. If you have an exhaustive concordance, such as Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, you will be using it throughout the book of studies. Or you may go online to http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html. If you have a concordance in the back of your Bible, it may list some of the verses we are seeking, but may not list them all.
Pigs in the Bible
Use your concordance to look up the word swine. Under the word swine, you will see a listing that looks like the one below.
Lev 11:7 the s, though he divide the hoof 2386
Matt 7:6 neither cast ye….pearls before s 5519
Etc
The abbreviation and numbers at the beginning of each line indicate the reference of each verse in which the word swine is used. The words in the center of each line quote the portion of the verse that contains the word swine. The “s” in each quote stands for the word swine. If you are unfamiliar with standard abbreviations for the books of the Bible, refer to the list of abbreviations provided at the beginning of the concordance.
2. What is the first reference listed?
3. Read this verse. What does it say about swine?
4. To fully understand this verse, you should also read the verses that precede it in the chapter, and the verses that follow it. These verses are called the context.
If you were to overhear only one sentence in a conversation between two people, you might very well misunderstand what they were talking about. In the same way, if you only read one Bible verse by itself, out of its context, you may misunderstand what the passage is actually saying. Read the other verses around this verse. Then note anything else you have learned about swine from the passage.
5. Look again at the concordance listing. What is the next verse that is listed?
6. Read this verse and it’s context. What does it say about swine?
7. Repeat numbers 5 & 6 for all the verses listed. (Continue to examine the context of each verse you look up as you do this study). Note that if the listing does not include an abbreviated name of a book of the Bible. This means that the verse is found in the same book of the Bible as the previous listing. If the previous verse was found in Matthew, so this next verse is also found in Matthew.
8. When you get to the listings for Matthew 8, read the entire account given. (Matthew 8:28-34) Note what you learn about the swine.
9. Did you notice anything new about the same story of the swine in Matthew, when you read it in Mark?
10. What do you notice about the verses from the Gospel of Luke?
11. Now that you have learned how to use the concordance and read its listings, look up the word swine’s in your concordance. List the references for verses that include this word.
12. Read each of these verses, with their context, and record your observations below.
13. Another word used in Scripture for a pig is the word boar. Locate this word in your concordance. List the reference of the verse that includes this word.
14. Read the verse and record your observations.
15. One more word that the King James Bible uses for the pig is sow. Look this word up in your concordance, record the verse’s reference, and note your observations.
16. Review the notes you have taken on all the verses that speak of pigs. Summarize your finding. What does the Bible say about pigs?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Beauty and the Pig
Our homeschool group is in their 1st year of the Co-op. I think I heard there were 70? students participating just this 1st year. The kids are all enjoying it. I am teaching a girls bible study for ages 8-13. There are 14 young ladies in the class and I'm just falling in love with these gals. The study we are doing is called Beauty and the Pig. We are studying on what does God find beautiful and at the same time learning how to study the bible. So far we are on week 3 and still on one verse. I hope they are not getting too bored, I think as long as I keep bringing goodies each time that will help:) This is a very timely study for me. I have looked at the ladies in my life and see such wonderful characteristics and a love for the Lord about them. Honestly, I'm humbled just being in their company. I'm truly the blessed one. I pray that as these young ladies go through this study that they will not only seek to put on the beautiful traits, but will also be able to identify the traits in others and use that as a guide for friendships.
Here is Week 1. Maybe someone else would like to follow along with us.
Beauty and the Pig Bible Study
“As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”
(Proverbs 11:22)
God paints a detailed picture of the beautiful woman who has no discretion! What could be more out of place than a costly gold ring adorning the snout of a pig? What could fall shorter of its purpose than that golden band as it is shoved through the mud and mire of the pigpen? Scripture tells us that beauty in the hands of a foolish woman is just as disgusting.
In this study we will examine the main words in Proverbs 11:22, seeking to gain a better understanding of the verse’s meaning. Later, in Study Number 4, “Beauty and the drip.” We will conduct a word study, learning to use the concordance to locate words, and the concordance’s dictionaries to understand the words’ meanings. For this first study, the appropriate verses and dictionary definitions will be provided for you.
The Hebrew word which is translated, jewel of gold in Proverbs 11:22 is often translated as “earring” in the King James Version. The literal translation from the Hebrew, however, is “nose ring.” The nose ring had a different meaning in the Old Testament, culture than it does in our own culture.
Each of the following verses uses the exact same Hebrew word that is used in Proverbs 11:22. Read each verse carefully and note what each one says about “earrings.”
Genesis 24:22
Job 42:11
Proverbs 25:12
Isaiah 3:21
What do you learn about “earrings” from these passages?
The word that is translated as fair in English is the Hebrew word “yapheh.” It comes from the root word, “yaphah” which means “to be bright.” “Yapheh” is also translated as “beautiful,” “comely,” “goodly,” “pleasant,” and “well” (as in well-favored). The word “yophiy” is translated as “beauty” and also comes from the same root word “yaphah.” Read each verse listed below and note how the word is used. Also list the names of all the people, places or things that are described as beautiful, fair, handsome, goodly in the verses.
Genesis 12:11, 14
Genesis 29:17
Genesis 39:6
Genesis 41:2, 4, 18
1 Samuel 16:12
a Samuel 17:42
1 Samuel 25:3
2 Samuel 13:1
2 Samuel 14:25, 27
1 Kings 1:3-4
Esther 2:7
Job 42:15
Proverbs 6:25
Proverbs 31:30
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Ezekiel 16:14
Ezekiel 28:17
Review your notes from Question 3 and summarize what you have learned about beauty.
In what ways do you think a gold earring and beauty are like?
For what purposes does the jeweler fashion the earring?
For what purposes does God grant physical beauty?
What responsibilities does the wearer of the gold ring have?
What responsibilities go with the physical beauty?
The word that is translated discretion in Proverbs 11:22 is the Hebrew word “taam.” It comes from a root verb that means “to taste,” or “to perceive.” The word is most often translated as “taste,” but it is also translated “advice,” “behavior,” “decree,” “judgment,” “reason,” and “understanding.”
Read each verse listed below and note how the word is used. You will need to read the verses before and after the listed passage to understand it’s context.
Exodus 16:31
Numbers 11:8
1 Samuel 21:13
1 Samuel 25:33
Job 6:6
Job 12:20
Psalms 119:66
Proverbs 11:22
Proverbs 26:16
Jonah 3:7
Review your notes. What common factors do you see in how the word “taam” is used?
Read the following definition of discretion as it is defined in Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language:
“Prudence, or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution; nice discernment and judgment; directed by circumspection, and primarily regarding one’s own conduct.”
How does this definition apply to the word discretion as it is used in Proverbs 11:22?
Read Webster’s definition of taste:
“To perceive by means of the tongue; to have a certain sensation in consequence of something applied to the tongue, the organ of taste; as, to taste bread; to taste wine; to taste a sweet or an acid.”
How does this definition apply to the word discretion as it is used in Proverbs 11:22?
As we learned in Question 3, the Bible uses a word for beautiful that means “to be bright,” Read Ecclesiastes 8:1. What does is say about wisdom and physical beauty?
*Read Proverbs 1:1-9. What is the purpose of the Book of Proverbs? How does this relate to the discretion that young ladies should possess?
Outline a specific plan that will help you grow in your ability to make wise judgments. How will you know how to behave in a proper way? How will you choose the correct way to respond to different situations throughout the day? Will you choose to read God’s Word for a specific amount of time each day? Will you study a particular topic in the Bible that could lead you to greater wisdom? Will you ask your parents for more guidance? Will you listen to authorities more carefully and obey them more diligently? Share your plan with someone that will help hold you accountable.
*Indicates a good scripture and discussion for young men to participate in.
For further study:
* Study the story of Rebekah in Genesis 24. Rebekah was a beautiful woman (Genesis 29:17) whose actions reflected her discreet and humble spirit. She was also given the same kind of gold ring that the pig in Proverbs 11:22 wears. What can you learn about beauty and discretion from Rebekah’s example?
Here is Week 1. Maybe someone else would like to follow along with us.
Beauty and the Pig Bible Study
“As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”
(Proverbs 11:22)
God paints a detailed picture of the beautiful woman who has no discretion! What could be more out of place than a costly gold ring adorning the snout of a pig? What could fall shorter of its purpose than that golden band as it is shoved through the mud and mire of the pigpen? Scripture tells us that beauty in the hands of a foolish woman is just as disgusting.
In this study we will examine the main words in Proverbs 11:22, seeking to gain a better understanding of the verse’s meaning. Later, in Study Number 4, “Beauty and the drip.” We will conduct a word study, learning to use the concordance to locate words, and the concordance’s dictionaries to understand the words’ meanings. For this first study, the appropriate verses and dictionary definitions will be provided for you.
The Hebrew word which is translated, jewel of gold in Proverbs 11:22 is often translated as “earring” in the King James Version. The literal translation from the Hebrew, however, is “nose ring.” The nose ring had a different meaning in the Old Testament, culture than it does in our own culture.
Each of the following verses uses the exact same Hebrew word that is used in Proverbs 11:22. Read each verse carefully and note what each one says about “earrings.”
Genesis 24:22
Job 42:11
Proverbs 25:12
Isaiah 3:21
What do you learn about “earrings” from these passages?
The word that is translated as fair in English is the Hebrew word “yapheh.” It comes from the root word, “yaphah” which means “to be bright.” “Yapheh” is also translated as “beautiful,” “comely,” “goodly,” “pleasant,” and “well” (as in well-favored). The word “yophiy” is translated as “beauty” and also comes from the same root word “yaphah.” Read each verse listed below and note how the word is used. Also list the names of all the people, places or things that are described as beautiful, fair, handsome, goodly in the verses.
Genesis 12:11, 14
Genesis 29:17
Genesis 39:6
Genesis 41:2, 4, 18
1 Samuel 16:12
a Samuel 17:42
1 Samuel 25:3
2 Samuel 13:1
2 Samuel 14:25, 27
1 Kings 1:3-4
Esther 2:7
Job 42:15
Proverbs 6:25
Proverbs 31:30
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Ezekiel 16:14
Ezekiel 28:17
Review your notes from Question 3 and summarize what you have learned about beauty.
In what ways do you think a gold earring and beauty are like?
For what purposes does the jeweler fashion the earring?
For what purposes does God grant physical beauty?
What responsibilities does the wearer of the gold ring have?
What responsibilities go with the physical beauty?
The word that is translated discretion in Proverbs 11:22 is the Hebrew word “taam.” It comes from a root verb that means “to taste,” or “to perceive.” The word is most often translated as “taste,” but it is also translated “advice,” “behavior,” “decree,” “judgment,” “reason,” and “understanding.”
Read each verse listed below and note how the word is used. You will need to read the verses before and after the listed passage to understand it’s context.
Exodus 16:31
Numbers 11:8
1 Samuel 21:13
1 Samuel 25:33
Job 6:6
Job 12:20
Psalms 119:66
Proverbs 11:22
Proverbs 26:16
Jonah 3:7
Review your notes. What common factors do you see in how the word “taam” is used?
Read the following definition of discretion as it is defined in Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language:
“Prudence, or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution; nice discernment and judgment; directed by circumspection, and primarily regarding one’s own conduct.”
How does this definition apply to the word discretion as it is used in Proverbs 11:22?
Read Webster’s definition of taste:
“To perceive by means of the tongue; to have a certain sensation in consequence of something applied to the tongue, the organ of taste; as, to taste bread; to taste wine; to taste a sweet or an acid.”
How does this definition apply to the word discretion as it is used in Proverbs 11:22?
As we learned in Question 3, the Bible uses a word for beautiful that means “to be bright,” Read Ecclesiastes 8:1. What does is say about wisdom and physical beauty?
*Read Proverbs 1:1-9. What is the purpose of the Book of Proverbs? How does this relate to the discretion that young ladies should possess?
Outline a specific plan that will help you grow in your ability to make wise judgments. How will you know how to behave in a proper way? How will you choose the correct way to respond to different situations throughout the day? Will you choose to read God’s Word for a specific amount of time each day? Will you study a particular topic in the Bible that could lead you to greater wisdom? Will you ask your parents for more guidance? Will you listen to authorities more carefully and obey them more diligently? Share your plan with someone that will help hold you accountable.
*Indicates a good scripture and discussion for young men to participate in.
For further study:
* Study the story of Rebekah in Genesis 24. Rebekah was a beautiful woman (Genesis 29:17) whose actions reflected her discreet and humble spirit. She was also given the same kind of gold ring that the pig in Proverbs 11:22 wears. What can you learn about beauty and discretion from Rebekah’s example?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I Peter 3:14-17
Lord sustain me so that my life and words will never be about me, but only for your glory.
Lord sustain me so that my life and words will never be about me, but only for your glory.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Moonlight Magic
Brian: Mom, what does making magic in the moonlight mean?
Me: What? Use it in a sentence.
Brian: I want to kiss a girl. I want to hold her tight. I wanna make a little magic in the moonlight.
Me: It means you probably won't be going back to work with daddy for a while.
See Here.
Me: What? Use it in a sentence.
Brian: I want to kiss a girl. I want to hold her tight. I wanna make a little magic in the moonlight.
Me: It means you probably won't be going back to work with daddy for a while.
See Here.
Monday, September 21, 2009
May You Be Inscribed In The Book of Life
September 18th was the start of Rosh Hashana. I posted earlier about the spiritual battle we are in. Today as I sat talking with a wise godly women who always just helps me rise to the next level of the spiritual thinking, I realized that while we are celebrating and studying this Jewish Holiday, satan had gotten me off track Thursday night. The night before the Jewish New Year. The 1st day of the 10 High Holy Days. My heart was frozen in time in the temporal with man versus preparing for remembering and "soakin' in" the Lord.
Am I a Jew? Not by birth. But I am adopted into a Jewish family so it seems to make sense to know of HIS heritage.
"May you be inscribed in The Book of Life" was a common greeting during this event.
So for these 10 days we will be incorporating it into our lives and school.
Today for vocabulary: inscribed, Book of Life, Shofar, Rosh Hashana
Geography: Isreal
Art: Made The Book of Life
Spelling: Wrote names in the book of life.
History: Read about the traditions
Narration: Informed Daddy about Rosh Hashana
Food: Had Fruit Cocktail Cake (Sweet foods were a staple during these 10 days to remind the Jews of the sweetness of God)
Am I a Jew? Not by birth. But I am adopted into a Jewish family so it seems to make sense to know of HIS heritage.
"May you be inscribed in The Book of Life" was a common greeting during this event.
So for these 10 days we will be incorporating it into our lives and school.
Today for vocabulary: inscribed, Book of Life, Shofar, Rosh Hashana
Geography: Isreal
Art: Made The Book of Life
Spelling: Wrote names in the book of life.
History: Read about the traditions
Narration: Informed Daddy about Rosh Hashana
Food: Had Fruit Cocktail Cake (Sweet foods were a staple during these 10 days to remind the Jews of the sweetness of God)
Develop Unity by Being Yoked!
This was in my inbox this morning for Command 25, Day 174 with the devotions from IBLS. It just reminded me again of God's perfect timing. We are in a time that there is a spiritual battle front and present. I pray that we all protect ourselves and not let our tongues be used to do satan's work. Protect yourself against being an open vessel. We know that in the end times family and close friends and the "church" being the entire body of believers will fall into pharisee like characteristics. Satan wants to divide and conquer, but we have a power bigger than that available to us. Stay in the word, stay in Christ, fight the good fight. Feel the burning in your muscles as you push through to that finish line. The closer we get to the end times, we will see good people fall and mislead and become false teachers. This is the time to know the scriptures, to know Jesus. So that you can separate the truth. This is the time when the emptiness of the non-believers will be searching and they will either find HIM through us or find reason to not want to know Him. Let us not be the reason another falters. II Tim 3:12 "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Be prepared. Be joyful that we are in the midst of His plan this very second.
________________________________________________________________
As believers we are all members of the same Body “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ” (I Corinthians 12:12). Paul reminds believers that because we are yoked together with Christ, we must learn how to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Putting on Christ’s yoke means our love should be evidenced by our words and actions. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another, because “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
Conflicts with fellow believers may reveal that we are out of step with Christ and are acting on the carnal impulses of our own wills.
The purpose of yoking oxen together is not to restrict their freedom, but rather to increase the potential of what they can accomplish. When two oxen are yoked together, they can pull with greater strength than either one could pull individually. The same principle is true for spiritual labors. Scripture states, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow … . And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12).
In the church of Philippi, believers were not getting along with each other. Not only were their conflicts damaging their fellowship with one another, but their conflicts were also hindering the spread of the Gospel. Therefore, Paul reminded them that they were yoked to Christ: “I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellows, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel” (Philippians 4:3).
Lack of harmony between believers encourages the world to reject the truth that Christ came to save them. (See John 17:21.)
The tendency among believers today is to be bound together by some minor doctrinal distinction rather than the bonds of Christ’s love and truth. Fellowship among ourselves then becomes a primary goal rather than being a natural by-product of teamwork in the Gospel. The result is that we miss the wonderful potential of walking with Jesus and the lasting fruit that comes from His work in our lives.
We are told to live “with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). This tremendous love and unity was demonstrated in the first century, as multitudes of believers were added to the Church daily. They were united in their love for the Lord and their desire to grow spiritually. They made sure that no one lacked daily provision as they sold their possessions and had all things in common. Rich fellowship and oneness of spirit were the results of this unity. (See Acts 2:41–47.) Let’s evaluate how we treat our fellow believers and purpose to show Christ’s love to one another.
Through Christ our Lord,
Bill Gothard
________________________________________________________________
Develop Unity by Being Yoked!
As believers we are all members of the same Body “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ” (I Corinthians 12:12). Paul reminds believers that because we are yoked together with Christ, we must learn how to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Putting on Christ’s yoke means our love should be evidenced by our words and actions. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another, because “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
Conflicts with fellow believers may reveal that we are out of step with Christ and are acting on the carnal impulses of our own wills.
The purpose of yoking oxen together is not to restrict their freedom, but rather to increase the potential of what they can accomplish. When two oxen are yoked together, they can pull with greater strength than either one could pull individually. The same principle is true for spiritual labors. Scripture states, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow … . And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12).
In the church of Philippi, believers were not getting along with each other. Not only were their conflicts damaging their fellowship with one another, but their conflicts were also hindering the spread of the Gospel. Therefore, Paul reminded them that they were yoked to Christ: “I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellows, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel” (Philippians 4:3).
Lack of harmony between believers encourages the world to reject the truth that Christ came to save them. (See John 17:21.)
The tendency among believers today is to be bound together by some minor doctrinal distinction rather than the bonds of Christ’s love and truth. Fellowship among ourselves then becomes a primary goal rather than being a natural by-product of teamwork in the Gospel. The result is that we miss the wonderful potential of walking with Jesus and the lasting fruit that comes from His work in our lives.
We are told to live “with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). This tremendous love and unity was demonstrated in the first century, as multitudes of believers were added to the Church daily. They were united in their love for the Lord and their desire to grow spiritually. They made sure that no one lacked daily provision as they sold their possessions and had all things in common. Rich fellowship and oneness of spirit were the results of this unity. (See Acts 2:41–47.) Let’s evaluate how we treat our fellow believers and purpose to show Christ’s love to one another.
Through Christ our Lord,
Bill Gothard
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Potpourri
As I was studying this week I read Proverbs 20:1 and it just stood out to me. How you do view this verse? About social drinking? Occasional drinking?
Here is an article that is pretty much no holds bar on a pastor's thoughts on home school and the health care proposal.
We started school Tuesday and are still in the adjusting phase. Or...is it that you never leave that phase? Here is my response as to why we choose to home school.
And finally here is a devotional that seems very fitting for today for many of us as Christians, as women and as God fearing citizens.
May you all have a blessed day.
Here is an article that is pretty much no holds bar on a pastor's thoughts on home school and the health care proposal.
We started school Tuesday and are still in the adjusting phase. Or...is it that you never leave that phase? Here is my response as to why we choose to home school.
And finally here is a devotional that seems very fitting for today for many of us as Christians, as women and as God fearing citizens.
May you all have a blessed day.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Walking on the Water
I posted on Monday about Peter sending out a "Popcorn Prayer" to Jesus as he was started to walk on the water. I found several things interesting about this short interaction. 1st while Peter kept his focus on Jesus, he was walking on water. Then as he turned his focus to the huge rolling waves around him, he started to sink. 2nd, Jesus was standing right there, he could see that Peter was sinking, but didn't reach out to save him until Peter cried out for help. 3rd, as Jesus saved Peter he accused him of having little faith. And here was a boat full of men and Peter was the only one brave enough to even get out. So I can't imagine what Christ thought of the rest of the guys.
I couldn't help but think of my own life. How many times have I told my Lord to lead and I will follow and then when the storms arise I start drowning in my fears that I physically see around me. I know the one to call on and I strive to keep my focus on him, but I'm sure that my failures along the path would cause him to say the same thing to me. "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Lord give me the wisdom to jump when I here you call me, the faith to follow and the strength to focus only on you.
I couldn't help but think of my own life. How many times have I told my Lord to lead and I will follow and then when the storms arise I start drowning in my fears that I physically see around me. I know the one to call on and I strive to keep my focus on him, but I'm sure that my failures along the path would cause him to say the same thing to me. "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Lord give me the wisdom to jump when I here you call me, the faith to follow and the strength to focus only on you.
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